Throughout the morality play of An Inspector Calls, Priestley critiques and voices his scathing opinion against the class system which oppresses the proletariat and upholds the already wealthy bourgeoisie. He encourages his audience to call for an end of the unfair class system, and instead to accept social responsibility which will bring about greater benefit for all. Priestley uses the character of Mr Birling as a conscious construct in order to highlight the deeply entrenched and obdurate nature of the “hard headed, practical man of business” in Edwardian era, who Mr Birling acted as a microcosm of. When in a discussion with Gerald and Eric, he comments on how social responsibility is a ridiculous notion, with him likening it to “bees in a hive- community and all that nonsense. The simile is used by Mr Birling to trivialise the vitality of social responsibility, likening it to animalistic and only fit for lower forces of beings- not even worth acknowledgment. This is further supported through his quick dismissal of the “awkward” ideology as seen through the harsh noun “nonsense”, presenting it as a foolish way of thinking. It reveals how he is quick to dismiss any political beliefs other than his own, revealing the obdurate and stubborn traits of the older generation who were deeply entrenched in their regressive capitalistic views. The simile is ironic as in fact bees are very well organised and structured, due to their community and responsibility, with Priestly questioning why even animals can adopt a social conscience yet why not we? Mr Birling’s disgust and support of the class system is further heightened through the “-” before “community”. This calls for a theatrical pause, when delivered by the actor in the play, calling for a pause. This highlights his repulsion to the concept, with him almost unable to even utter the word. Mr Birling, throughout the morality play of An Inspector Calls, acts as a paragon of those in society that continued to promote classism, so blinded by the lens of capitalism and greed that they were unable to understand the catastrophic ramification of suffering inflicted on the poor. The inspector is used as a mouthpiece to voice Priestley’s concerns and promote his socialist ideology, which would have called for an end of classism. While questioning Mr Birling regarding the ethics of capitalism and classism, he reminds him how “Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges”. The adjective “public” serves as a poignant reminder that Mr Birling is to be a functioning member of the community, meant to be using his power and influence to help bring about positive change throughout the community, which Mr Birling completely juxtaposes. The syntax of “responsibility” preceding “privileges” reveals the importance of the upper class members in Edwardian society serving their “responsibility” before using their “privileges”. He scrutinises Mr Birling who stood to represent the upper class who callously took advantage of the class system and their “privileges” in order to exploit the underprivileged lower classes, retreating back and using their class as shield to justify their heinous deeds. The inspector further comments on, in his final speech, how we are all “members of one body”. The quote draws reference to an ecclesiastical allusion, symbolic to the Bible’s teaching of how we are all members of one body. The Inspector echoing this is imperative as it questions the morality of his audience, who claim loyalty to the Christian faith, yet do not follow its teachings of treating everyone equally. The adjective “one” is important as it reminds the audience the importance of social responsibility and being a community, which Mr Birling previously described as “awkward” and nonsensical. The noun “body” and “members” also reveal how each and every one of us has an important part to play, and therefore we are all equal regardless of our socially prescribed class. The inspector can also be said to be an agent of God, revealing divine messages and aiming to reform the Mr Birling family, and by extension the audience, from their regressive classist views. Priestley encourages socialism, by revealing how it endorses Christian values and follows the religion, which would have gained the approval of the widely Christian audience. Priestly also presents the abolishment of the class system as something divinely approved. Furthermore, Priestley presents the class system as something that will ultimately bring about destruction and chaos. This is revealed through the inspector and Sheila, a proxy of the inspector when he leaves , as they comment on how “If men will not learn they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.” The polysyndeton repeated by Sheila reveals the proleptic consequences that awaited, with the repetition of “and” heightening the never ending chaos that would be brought about if the class system was to be upheld. The triadic phrase also has a semantic field of hell, foreshadowing the destruction brought when “men” did not learn their lesson, as seen through not just 1 war but rather two worlds rather, something that the post WW2 audience of 1945 would have been familiar with. Priestley is also subtly critiquing the patriarchal society through the use of “men”, revealing his anger but also realisation in the fact that only men could bring about a change, given the oppression faced by the women in Edwardian society. In conclusion, the political diatribe of An Inspector Calls, Priestley criticises the class system, and offers socialism as the antidote to the illness of capitalism and socialism. He encourages his audience to put themselves in the shoes of the “millions and millions of Eva Smith’s and John Smiths” “counting their pennies in their dingy little backrooms”. By offering a mirror to his audience, Priestly encourages them to introspect and ask themselves whether they contributed to the tight grip that the class system held on the lower classes.